EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES

SEOUL REPUBLIC OF KOREA

news

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR BIDS FAREWELL TO ROK MPVA, CELEBRATES STRENGTHENED PH-ROK PARTNERSHIP ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

Vice Minister Kang Yunjin of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) presented Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega with a heartfelt parting gift—a beautifully curated photobook documenting all MPVA events and veterans affairs commemorations she attended from 2021 to 2025.

21 July 2025, SEOUL — Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega bid farewell to Vice Minister Kang Yunjin of the ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) on 21 July 2025 at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. During the meeting, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and Vice Minister Kang warmly reflected on four years of robust and meaningful cooperation in the field of veterans affairs between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. Both sides acknowledged the strong partnership that led to enhanced programs honoring Filipino veterans of the Korean War. Milestones such as high-level exchanges and the successful 2023 Ministerial Summit on Veterans Affairs marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, have further strengthened bilateral cooperation and underscored both countries’ shared commitment to honoring veterans and supporting their descendants. 

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega conveyed her sincere appreciation to all individuals and organizations who played a vital role in advancing veterans’ affairs and honoring the legacy of Filipino Korean War veterans over the years—particularly highlighting the special tribute paid in 2022 by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) to the late President and PEFTOK veteran Fidel V. Ramos. 

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega sought the MPVA’s continued commitment to honoring and recognizing the 7,420 Filipino veterans of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK), who served with distinction during the Korean War in the 1950s. She also noted the increasing focus on extending support to the descendants of veterans as part of the enduring legacy of friendship between the two nations. Continued engagements, from joint medical missions to educational programs and veterans’ welfare initiatives, reaffirm the PH-ROK strategic partnership goal of fostering lasting solidarity in honor of our veterans. 

Vice Minister Kang reaffirmed MPVA’s dedication to working closely with the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché, and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) to advance veterans' welfare and honor their sacrifices after the Ambassador’s tenure, further deepening the shared values and historic ties that continue to bind the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. END

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega conveyed her sincere appreciation to Vice Minister Kang and her team, as well as to all individuals and organizations who have played a vital role in advancing veterans’ affairs and honoring the legacy of Filipino Korean War veterans over the years. She was joined by Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General Edwin Gil Mendoza, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario and Defense Attaché Col. Don Templonuevo.

Tags
Bilateral relations Defense Cooperation Veterans affairs cooperation

Other News

September 08, 2025
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY WELCOMES KDIS-DAP INTERNATIONAL SHUTTLE COURSE ON DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION DELEGATES

04 September 2025, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza, welcomed Former Senator Francis Tolentino, local chief executives and national government officials participating in the International Shuttle Course (ISC) on Digital Transformation in the Public Sector program of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management (KDIS) on 02 September 2025. During their visit, the delegation were given a brief overview by Embassy officials of the relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.  In his remarks, CDA a.i. Mendoza acknowledged the important role of local government units in strengthening engagement with other countries. “Diplomacy begins where our people live, in our towns, cities and provinces. It begins with our local government officials who build the trust and confidence of citizens every single day. In several cases, domestic policy informs foreign policy,” he said. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario presented an overview of PH-ROK relations covering key aspects of bilateral relations and shared ROK’s best practices in digital transformation that may be applied by local government units in the Philippines. Former Senator Tolentino, Mission Leader of DAP-ISC, reaffirmed the outstanding relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. During his term as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Tolentino provided instrumental support for the bilateral free trade agreement and defense procurement projects between both nations. As the proponent of the DAP Adaptive Governance and Innovation for Local Executives (AGILE) Program, the former Senator encouraged the delegates to continue working for a better and connected Philippines. Professor Hai-young Yun, Assistant Dean of External Relations of KDIS expressed appreciation for the support extended by the Embassy to its programs, stressing the important role the latter plays in helping delegates gain a deeper understanding of the multi-faceted relations between the Philippines and the ROK. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul continues to emphasize the importance of sub-national diplomacy by supporting capacity-building and knowledge-exchange activities such as DAP-ISC.  By focusing on digital transformation and innovation in governance, the DAP-ISC program harnesses ROK leadership in technology for public service delivery and helps local government units translate these lessons into context with strategies that will empower communities and make cities more efficient, responsive and future-ready. END

Read More
September 08, 2025
PHILIPPINES ADVANCES REGIONAL COOPERATION AT APEC ENERGY MINISTERIAL IN BUSAN

Busan, Korea – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul joined the Department of Energy delegation led by Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara at the 15th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting (EMM15) from 27-28 August 2025, where she reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to work with APEC partners in advancing clean energy, modernizing infrastructure, and building resilient systems for a sustainable and inclusive Asia-Pacific future. 

Read More
September 05, 2025
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY HOLDS 2025 PALARONG PINOY AND FAMILY DAY IN JEJU, SOUTH KOREA

31 August 2025, Jeju, South Korea — The Philippine Embassy in Seoul successfully held the 2025 Palarong Pinoy and Multicultural Family Day on 31 August 2025 at the Shimin Bokji Citizens Welfare Town Plaza in Jeju-si, South Korea. This vibrant event is part of the Embassy’s ongoing cultural diplomacy and community engagement efforts aimed at fostering unity and cultural pride among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Filipino marriage migrants, and multicultural families in South Korea.

Read More
VIEW ALL

© 2024 Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Seoul Republic of Korea. All rights reserved.

Powered by: